35+ Affiliate Marketing Statistics: Key Trends & Insights for 2025

Affiliate marketing is booming.

In fact, the global affiliate marketing industry is expected to reach $17 billion in 2025. That's explosive growth! 

And with over 80% of brands leveraging affiliate programs and 16% of all e-commerce sales driven by affiliates, it's clear that this strategy is a major revenue driver.

How profitable is affiliate marketing? Which niches dominate? What are the latest trends? 

Let’s explore the numbers.

Key takeaways

• The global affiliate marketing industry is worth $17 billion in 2025.
• Affiliate marketing contributes 16% of total e-commerce sales worldwide.
• 81% of brands and 84% of publishers use affiliate marketing.
• The average affiliate marketer earns $8,000 to $10,000 per month.
• The finance and retail industries lead in affiliate revenue generation.

General affiliate marketing statistics

It is interesting to note that 65% of merchants say affiliate marketing generates 10-20% of their revenue.

Over 31% of publishers report affiliate marketing as one of their top three revenue sources.

While 49% of customers rely on influencer and affiliate recommendations before making a purchase, the average conversion rate for affiliate marketing is 0.5% to 1% across industries.

Affiliate marketing spending in the US is projected to reach $13 billion in 2025.

Affiliate marketing growth over the years

The affiliate industry has grown by 10% year-over-year for the last five years.

Affiliate commissions range from 5% to 30%, which highly depends on the industry.

Amazon Associates remains the largest affiliate network, with over 900,000 affiliates.

Here is the list of affiliate marketing growth over the last few years:

Affiliate marketing revenue trends and statistics

According to affiliates worldwide, revenue generated from affiliate marketing efforts in 2021 suggests that,

Unsurprisingly, mobile affiliate marketing accounts for 50% of all affiliate-driven sales.

Roughly one out of six affiliates earned up to $50k, whereas nearly 4% reached a revenue of more than $150k.

Also, 16.21% of affiliates made about $10k to $50k. 

Top affiliate niches & earnings

If you looking to expand your earnings, here we have listed some of the top affiliate niches and earnings for you:

1. Finance and insurance affiliates earn the highest commissions, averaging $80 per lead.
2. The tech and SaaS niche sees affiliate commissions as high as 40% per sale.
3. Health and wellness affiliate programs have an average commission rate of 15%.
4. Travel affiliates earn an average of $35 per booking.
5. Fashion and beauty affiliates generate $20 billion annually.

Affiliate marketing platforms & network insights

According to the latest statistics, Rakuten, ShareASale, CJ Affiliate, and Amazon Associates dominate the market.

Google searches for 'affiliate marketing' have increased by 250% since 2020.

47% of affiliate marketers prefer niche-specific networks over general ones.

54% of affiliates say SEO is their top traffic source.

45% of affiliates use social media for traffic. And who do you think is leading the way?-Instagram and YouTube. 

Consumer behavior in affiliate marketing

Did you know that 74% of shoppers visit multiple affiliate sites before making a purchase decision?

Something more interesting to note is that 50% of consumers trust affiliate recommendations as much as personal referrals.

60% of online shoppers click on affiliate links when looking for product reviews.

30% of customers make a purchase within 24 hours of clicking an affiliate link.

Mobile purchases via affiliate links have grown by 45% in the past two years.

More than 40% of Gen Z shoppers prefer influencer-driven affiliate marketing over traditional ads.

Challenges in affiliate marketing

People enter the affiliate space believing it is a cakewalk but statistics suggest that it is not as easy as it seems. Here are the common issues they face:

• 38% of affiliate marketers struggle with low conversion rates.
• 23% of merchants say affiliate fraud is a concern, leading to $1.4 billion in losses annually.
• 42% of affiliates find it difficult to drive consistent traffic.
• 28% of affiliates cite delayed or missed commission payments as a major issue.

Conclusion

Affiliate marketing continues to be a powerful revenue-generating model, with growing adoption across industries. As brands refine their strategies and affiliates optimize their channels, the industry is set for even greater expansion.

FAQs

Is affiliate marketing profitable in 2025?

Yes! With an average ROI of $15 per $1 spent, it remains a highly lucrative strategy.

What are the best niches for affiliate marketing?

Finance, SaaS, e-commerce, health, and travel remain top niches for high commissions.

How much do affiliate marketers make on average?

Earnings vary, but successful affiliates make $8,000 to $10,000 per month, while top earners exceed $100,000 annually.

What platforms are best for affiliate marketing?

Amazon Associates, ShareASale, Rakuten, CJ Affiliate, and Awin are among the most popular networks.

Is affiliate marketing still growing?

Yes, the industry has grown 10% year-over-year, with mobile and social media driving major growth.

Sources

1. Statista. Affiliate Marketing Industry Reports
2. HubSpot. Affiliate Marketing Trends 2025
3. Influencer Marketing Hub. Affiliate Marketing Revenue Data
4. Business Insider. E-Commerce and Affiliate Growth Insights
5. Amazon Associates. Affiliate Program Statistics 2025